Music Education in Charter Schools: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The purpose of this PRISMA Scoping review was to synthesize research regarding charter school music education. Findings regarding charter school music offerings were varied. At state and national levels, charter schools were less likely to offer music courses than traditional public schools; however, in large urban districts, charter schools offered music courses at comparable or greater rates. Charter school music teachers tended to be less experienced and more likely to be certified through alternative licensure programs. Disparities in music education between charter schools and traditional public schools were also intertwined with factors such as race, socioeconomic status, school size, and location, as charter schools tended to be smaller, serve higher proportions of students of color and/or from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and be in urban areas. Recommendations for music educators include considering state and local policies, administrative structures, and curricular or pedagogical foci when exploring music programs in charter schools.